Internet use has changed the way medication purchases are regulated, due in part to patients’ free access to information related to pharmaceutical products and medical care. Such access allows patients to be more knowledgeable consumers and rely less upon their physicians’ expertise when purchasing medications. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has promoted Internet medication sales by allowing nonprint promotion of medications with less detailed information in the ad itself about side effects and precautions than is required of print advertisements. Consequently, pharmaceutical manufacturers sponsor Internet links to promote direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising via the Internet, with sales sites one click away.
DTC has benefited both patients and medication sellers. Evidence suggests that direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs increases pharmaceutical sales and helps to avert underuse of medicines, but at the same time leads to potential overuse (See Julie M. Donohue, Ph.D., “A Decade of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs,” N. Engl. J. Med., Aug. 16, 2007). Many DTC marketers have profited by recognizing the opportunities that the Internet offers for reaching consumers.
This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.
To view this content, please continue to their sites.
Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.
For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]
